PLECTOSPONDYLI. Ill 



shaped band. Barbels 4. Maxillary barbels band-like, very long. Chin 

 with two short barbels. Nostrils close together, the posterior with a 

 valve; nuchal region with a granulated, bony buckler. Foutanelle 

 large, well forward. Dorsal fin short, in front of the ventrals, with 1 

 sharp spine and 7 rays. Pectorals with a similar spine ; both pectoral 

 and dorsal spines ending in a long, striated, band-like filament. Adipose 

 fin moderate, free behind. Caudal fin widely forked. Anal moderate 

 or rather long. Ventral rays 6. Gill membranes somewhat connected. 

 Tropical waters of America; the species all marine. (athuupoq, cat; 

 , fish.) 



112. JE. mariniis (MitcMll) B. & G. Sea Cat-fisli; Gaff-top-sail 



Dusky bluish, silvery below. Head rather short and broad, rounded 

 anteriorly. Eye rather large, low, anterior. Occipital buckler subtrian- 

 gular, tapering behind. Maxillary barbels extending about to the end of 

 the pectoral spine. Pectoral spine longer than the dorsal spine, two- 

 thirds the length of the head, its filament reaching the vent. Dorsal 

 filament reaching adipose fin. Upper lobe of caudal much the longer. 

 Anal fin falcate. Band of palatine teeth nearly continuous. Head 4^. 

 D. I, 7 ; A. 23; P. I, 12; B. 6; Yert. 20 + 30. Cape Cod to Mexico; 

 common southward,, 



(Silurusmarinusblibchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. i,433; Giiuther, v, 178.) 



ORDER L.-PLECTOSPONDYLI. 



(The Plectospondylous Fishes.) 



Physostomous fishes with the parietals broad, distinct ; pterotic nor- 

 mal; symplectic present; opercular bones all present; no interclavi- 

 cles, and the four anterior vertebrae much modified and with ossicula 

 auditus. This group consists principally of fresh-water fishes, and in- 

 cludes about six families. Two strongly marked divisions are included 

 in it, the one the suborder Eventognatlii of Professor Gill, and the other 

 the Characins, referred by Professor Gill to the Isospondyli. The Chara- 

 cius resemble the Isospondyli in general appearance and in the structure 

 of the pharyngeals, but differ in the modification of the anterior ver- 

 tebrae. (TT/UXTC)?, joined together ; <r-ovu/l ? , vertebra.) 



ANALYSIS OF FAMILIES OF PLECTOSPONDYLI. 



* Brain case produced between orbits ; basis cranii simple ; only two superior pharyn- 

 geal bones; lower pharyugeals falciform, parallel with the gill-arches ; jaws 

 toothless. (Eventognatlti.*) 



* sv, well ; tcrof, within ; yvaQoc, jaw. 



